Lest We Forget The Other – Chinese and Indian contributions to ANZAC

The New Zealand Indian Central Association and New Zealand Chinese Association recently collaborated on an exhibition in Wellington to honour the service of Indian and Chinese New Zealanders in the First World War. The exhibition was held at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park between 25 November 2017 and 25 March 2018.

The exhibition, ‘Lest We Forget The Other’, highlighted the stories of Indian and Chinese soldiers from New Zealand who fought as part of the New Zealand and Australian ANZAC forces supporting the British Empire.

Jaget Singh and Ratan Chand-Mehra, both Sikh New Zealanders, fought alongside allied forces at Gallipoli, after immigrating from India and Pakistan respectively. Mr Singh, of the Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment, served in the Dardanelles Campaign before being wounded in Chunnuk Bair, Gallipoli. He earned medals for his bravery while fighting for his country.

Mr Chand-Mehra joined the 4th Reinforcement of New Zealand Rifle Brigade in 1915, a year into the war. He fought in the bitter French winter before passing away on 3 December 1917, in Belgium, and was survived by his wife and daughter who remained in Pakistan.

Herbert Stanley Sing and Albert Victor Sing, brothers from China, also served in the ANZAC forces. Herbert was killed in a German bombardment on the Western front and was buried in France.

Held by two ethnic community organisations in New Zealand, this was the first exhibition of its kind, enlightening many who visited.